Fire escape



April 22, 19V-47.- H. R. H. LUDELl-s 2,419,359

FIRE ESCAPE Original Filed Feb.4 l8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Patented Apr. 22, 1947 FIRE ESCAPE Henry Richard Harms Ludelfs, GrossePointe Woods, Mich.

substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

379,503, February 18, 1941.

This application October 28, 1946, Serial N0. 706,143

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to viire equipment and more particularly the Iireescape set forth in my former application Serial No. 379,503, iiiedFebruary 18, 1941.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a reescape adapted to be raised from the ground to windows in buildings soas to assist trapped individuals to safely escape.

Another object of this invention resides in the particular means forraising and lowering the cage.

A further object of this invention resides in the particular means forholding the cage from the walls of buildings.

A still further object of this invention resides in the particularassociation of the bag with the frame.

Aside from the aforesaid objects is the particular manner of disposingthe pulleys on the frame.

With these and other objects in view this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of elements to behereinafter more particularly set forth in the specication, illustratedin the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim and,while this disclosure depicts my present conception of the invention,the right is reserved to resort to such changes in construction andarrangement of elements as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application;

Fig. 1 is a front View of a portion of a building showing the fireescape raised to one window thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof approximately on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of the frame with the cage removed.

Fig. 4 is a front View of the same showing the cage attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view approximately on line 5-5of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an end View of the cross-bar showing a link and cable attachedthereto.

Fig. '7 is a front View thereof.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view approximately on line 8 8 ofFig. 2.

In the present illustration of this invention the letter AA designates alportion of a residence or building showing a window B therein fromwhich is adjustably suspended as by ropes or cables 5 anchored thereinby a cross-bar B, a re escape y 'l in the form of a perpendicularlymovable cage lor basket.

- The re escape 'I preferably consists of a frame 8 consisting ofsubstantially rectangular angleiron upper and lower members S and Illconnected at the medial portions of their sides by plates II andstrengthened throughout by braces I2.

Projecting inwardly and upwardly from the upper end of the frame 8 arearms I3 strengthened by braces I4, said arms being adapted to restagainst the center side wall of the building to hold the frame in spacedrelation relative thereto.

Secured to the lower member lil as by plates II and fastening elementsI5 is a bag or cage I5 formed of any suitable material adapted to closethe lower side of the frame and retain individuals entering the reescape therein.

Projecting laterally from the plates II adjacent the upper member 9 arefork-shape lugs I'I having threaded inner ends I8 passing through theplates and connected to a cross-rod I9 by elongated nuts 20, saidfork-shape lugs are adapted toV pivotally support swivelled pulleys 2I.

Formed on the arms I3 adjacent their inner ends are laterally extendinglugs 22 adapted to pivotally support swivelled -pulley 23 preferablydisposed in perpendicular alignment with the pulley 2|.

Slidably disposed on the cross-bar 6 are links 24 having apertures 25 intheir free ends to receive the innerends of cables 5 which are loopedand fastened thereto in any suitable manner, said cables extendl fromthe links and are trained through the aligned pulleys ZI and 23 onopposite sides of the frame and are of sufficient length to raise andlower the rire escape from the ground to windows in buildings, it beingapparent the length of the cables will be determined by the height ofthe tallest buildings in the cities wherein the fire escapes are to beused.

In order to lighten the links on the cross-bar, suitable fasteningelements 26 are associated therewith.

With a lire escape constructed in accordance with this invention it issimply necessary for the fireman to take the cross-bar with the cablesattached thereto up a ladder and dispose it across a window whereinindividuals are awaiting assistance whereupon firemen or individuals onthe ground cause the cage to rise by walking in opposite directions withthe free or lower ends of the cable taut or by standing at points onopposite sides of the fire escape and tightening the cables, elevation.of the re escape being caused by the tendency of the cables tostraighten out between the points of connection to the cross-bar andindividuals pulling on the same.

Subsequent to occupancy of the re escape by re trapped individuals thecables are slackened to permit it to smoothly gravitate.

Due 'to the simplicity in construction of the present fire escape it isapparent operation thereof is performed without practice or skill andthe cost of manufacture of the same will permit'it to be sold at areasonable price.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

A fire escape of the character described com-VV prising a substantiallyrectangular frame, in- 15 through aligned pulleys on the sides of theframe and arms and a cross-bar connecting the pulleys on opposite sidesof the frame.

HENRY RICHARD HARMS LUDELFS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the abandonedapplication Ser, No. 379,503 for which this case is substituted.

UNITED ASTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 295,929 McDonough Apr. 1, 1884346,406 Hutchings July 27, 1886 1,183,960 Ecker et al May 23, 19161,556,555 Brown Oct. 6, 1925 1,824,279 Kolesza Sept. 22, 1931 FOREIGNPATENTS Y Number Country Date l 35,452 Australia Dec. 10, 1908

